New Course in History

HIST 3559 (2)

New Course in History

"Pandemics, Epidemics, and History"

There is perhaps no longer lasting historical relationship than that between humans and disease, especially that of epidemic disease.The relationship predates agriculture, the formation of cities, and, if current research on the emergence of diseases like tuberculosis is correct, human migration out of Africa.From the earliest times to the present, epidemics have affected human history in myriad ways: demographically, culturally, politically, financially, and biologically.Humans have never known a time in history when epidemics did not loom large.This is true today as it ever was.This course will span a great deal of time and space—from the emergence of the earliest known diseases through HIV/AIDS.The course will be a mixture of lecture and discussion.